Inheritance of Turpentine Composition inPius Attenuata×RadiataHybrids

Abstract

Samples of turpentine from 50 F₁ and F₂ Pinus attenuata × radiata hybrids and related trees were analysed by vapour-phase chromatography. The results suggest that the major difference between the turpentines of these two species is controlled by a single gene, but since variation in F₁ hybrids and those within the range of wild P. radiata is of a continuous nature, a multifactorial system of modifiers is probably present in this species. Because many F₂ and backcross hybrids were found to have turpentine resembling that of the parent species, it was concluded that this character alone cannot provide reliable evidence of hybridity.